How to save money on groceries

[lala72]

I’ve been here for awhile and I’ve read the e books, but I’m still struggling to stick with a budget for food. I make all meals at home. I can bake, but sometimes due to MS I just don’t have the energy.

I can’t save on eggs because I don’t have chickens and I don’t have anyone nearby to share with. So with prices going up at every turn what do I do?

[quapawmom]

I have trouble sticking to a budget as well. My trouble comes with eating out, its easier to stop for a burger when running errands at least thats what i tell myself. I think it just takes lots of practice and eventually you get there.

Maybe on you good days trying baking a couple of things and freezing, or utilize the crockpot. Do you have any friends nearby? maybe you could do a cooking day making doubles and each taking home half then you would have help if you got too tired or were having a weak day.

I dont know if any of this helps but hopefully some of it does. Also maybe try sticking to a budget for certain items or meals at first. Breakfast is easiest for me because none of us care about it as long as something is in our bellys lol
Hope I helped a little…have a good day!

[screamingflea]

I have a similar problem, although mine is based in disability – on my bad days I’d eat out because I didn’t have the energy to cook. Or I just wouldn’t eat. :-/ I wouldn’t recommend that.

The mix recipes on this site and elsewhere were revolutionary for me, because I could make mixes on my good days and set them aside for when I needed them. Usually I’d dump them in the crockpot and add some fresh or canned veggies. A simple healthy meal with about 10 minutes of brainless effort.

My health took an instant and dramatic turn for the better since I was eating right, and I saved a ton of money. Whoo!

I’ve done a lot of research into mix recipes, and there are a lot of cookbooks on the market. You can also find a lot through the survivalist/”prepper” communities where you’ll find a goldmine of information on effective longterm storage to boot. And you’d be amazed at what you’ll find if you put “in a jar” into the search engine of any recipe website.

In my experience, this website is the motherlode for mix recipes because of the depth and variety. Happy experimenting!

[Melissa Burnell]

@lala72 598973 wrote:

I’ve been here for awhile and I’ve read the e books, but I’m still struggling to stick with a budget for food. I make all meals at home. I can bake, but sometimes due to MS I just don’t have the energy. I can’t save on eggs because I don’t have chickens and I don’t have anyone nearby to share with. So with prices going up at every turn what do I do?

Lala, do a little at a time… when you make a casserole style meal, double the recipe and freeze one. A 9×9 foil pan will slip into a gallon size ziplock bag perfectly.

Make several mixes at once, I have a tendency to do these while I’m on the phone. I just line the bags (or jars) up measure out all the flour, into each of the bags, then all the sugar, etc, repeat until each bag has all of the ingredients. It takes about 2 minutes longer to make 10 of something as it does 1 of something.

Then you have them in the pantry and all you have to do is add water, eggs,milk or oil (for the most part).

I guess my biggest question would be, have you looked on your grocery store receipts? Where is the majority of your budget going? Use a highlighter and mark all convenience foods, use a pencil and mark all produce, use a colored pen and mark all meats and add them up, what are you spending the most on? Once we know that, we can work on finding you some money saving tips.

[Lynnewebb]

I try not to waste food! Being widowed with 3 teens taught me a lot. Now that I am alone, most recipes are too large and entail too many ingredients.

So, I make soup! Either on Sunday Evining or Monday morning, I start with left over, yes, even mashed potatoes. If there is none, 1/2 cup of rice and either tomato sauce or canned diced tomatoes.

Then I add frozen mixed peas and carrots and dried beans. I buy produce such as squash or zucchini off the mark down rack and have them diced and frozen so I add a cup of that. Bits of roast?

Minced chicken? Or, no meat at all. When it’s ‘soup’ I serve myself a bowl and add a dollop of butter or bacon fat I have saved.

It lasts for days and never the same soup twice in a row. The best part is I get the suggested amount of vegetables daily.

[Lifestylepost]

@lala72 598973 wrote:

I’ve been here for awhile and I’ve read the e books, but I’m still struggling to stick with a budget for food. I make all meals at home. I can bake, but sometimes due to MS I just don’t have the energy.

I can’t save on eggs because I don’t have chickens and I don’t have anyone nearby to share with. So with prices going up at every turn what do I do?

lala, if you’re looking for easy ways to save money on groceries you should consider ibotta app (if you have a smartphone)

https://ibotta.com/

Edit by Moderator: Thank you for participating in the forums. However, the link you provided benefited a site other than, or in addition to, the one making the offer. Please in the future provide the most direct link possible.

[jeanna4m]

One way I found to save money on food is to menu plan. Now I don’t say one Monday we are going to have X and on Tuesday Y, but I do say this week we will have meatloaf with say corn and carrots. So when I plan I take that into consideration.

Of course I do check out sales papers and if something is a great deal I will find one or two of my most expensive meals and replace them with what is on sale. One other thing is we have learned to simplify our tastes. I also buy my spices at the health food store here in town.

Like a head of cabbage is cheap and can be used so many ways it is usually bought weekly. I have quit buying any kind of chips, or just junk food. However, I know everyone has hold outs ours is coke zero and dr pepper.

You just have to decide where you draw the line.

[pohcstnotna]

don’t give up . you are blessed as at lease you can bake and cook , share cost with people you know and if possible buy groceries when on sale and of course use coupons.
Good luck.

[lala72]

Thank you, but my cell phone cannot use that app.

[lala72]

@Lifestylepost 634840 wrote:

lala, if you’re looking for easy ways to save money on groceries you should consider ibotta app (if you have a smartphone)

https://ibotta.com/

edit by moderator: thank you for participating in the forums. however, the link you provided benefited a site other than, or in addition to, the one making the offer. please in the future provide the most direct link possible.
thank you, but my phone cannot use that app.

[lala72]

Thank you all for your great tips. After I posted the first entry I went back a read most of the $50 a week posts. My biggest thing was I couldn’t get my mind around it, but it became clearer to me after I did some research.

Now I go to the bank once a month and take out $300. $50 is for household items and the remaining $250 is for groceries. I’ve done it for 2 months and it’s been good.

I switched my monthly menu to a weekly menu (which is easier for me to budget). I skipped shopping the week after Thanksgiving because there was no need to go. Normally I would go just to go.

[Alexxaa]

@Lifestylepost 634840 wrote:

lala, if you’re looking for easy ways to save money on groceries you should consider ibotta app (if you have a smartphone)

thanks for application, will try to find

[Author]

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